Britains Hussars (2 Viewers)

[johnnybach]

Whilst collecting up sufficient Life Guards, for a recently completed project, from mostly e-bay sources - I either had to buy some other pieces offered in the same lots - or saw others from the same seller at bargain prices - usually because some repair work would be involved.

These are the Hussars I collected along the way, all of which required some attention.

I hope you can see below, eight Britains Hussars - all of which are in some state of repair and restoration. There are two basic poses here - Four are on cantering horses - and four at full stretch on the galloping horse (sometimes referred to as the Rocking Horse). It's fair to say that most needed one, two or in one case three legs for their respective steeds. These were replaced by the now familiar drill, pin and glue method. Note also that the plume to the small fur cap is often broken off - and can be replaced by drilling into the snapped off base - glueing in a small pin, which then receives a wrapping of milliput which can then be sanded down and painted. The steel core (paper-clip section) will keep it safe again. You can probably see some of these repairs when in the bare metal state - usually given away by the white milliput filler on joints - but once painted - they just disappear. The bay horse at centre, for example has had front right and rear right legs replaced. I trust you can't now see the joints.

Note also that Britains cast in a sword in a scabbard on the left side - and a carbine in a scabbard on the right side of the horses. They then proceeded to give the rider either a sword - or carbine in his right hand. This effectively gave the rider either two swords - or two carbines! As you may be able to see, I'm going to rectify this with mine - by removing the extra weapon. The gallopers will be carrying a carbine, whilst those cantering will have sword in hand - so I will remove the extra weapons from the scabbard, by removing the sword-handle and guard, or carbine butt on the respective horses. This is done by surgery - and repairs made with tissue paper, glue and milliput.

Two of my figures will be trumpeters ( one for each type), so the scabbarded weapons will be kept for these - as they will carry the trumpet in their free right hand. I have most of the spares required ( arms/weapons) - except for one hussar head - which is on order from Dorset Soldiers - which is where all of the other horse-leg spares used came from.

As is my usual practice, I will be basing all of my figures, with custom made stands - made from light alloy metal, drilled and pinned to each standing foot of each horse, as I've already begun jb

 

[theBaron]

Very cool project, John! I always thought that Britains' basic hussar could easily be converted to the hussars of almost any of the European armies at the turn of the 20th century--even considering that Britains did issue their Prussian Hussar/Danish Garde-Husar set. I look forward to following your progress on this one.

Could you remind us again where you get your bases, too? Do you have a source for those bases, already stamped/shaped, or do you fashion them yourself out of that stock?

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

Very cool project, John! I always thought that Britains' basic hussar could easily be converted to the hussars of almost any of the European armies at the turn of the 20th century--even considering that Britains did issue their Prussian Hussar/Danish Garde-Husar set. I look forward to following your progress on this one.

Could you remind us again where you get your bases, too? Do you have a source for those bases, already stamped/shaped, or do you fashion them yourself out of that stock?

Prost!
Brad

Yo Brad! - Glad you like 'em. I'll be adding them to my existing group of British 11th Hussars - nicknamed "the Cherry Pickers" baecause of their Cherry coloured pants, when they're completed.

My bases are hand cut and shaped by me - from small off-cuts of metal alloy. I have a small Engineering Company near to me in the UK. They do all kinds of work - which involves repairs/modifications etc of (mostly) vehicles. They frequently have small off-cuts of metal left over, which they sell off. When I'm around that area, I usually pop in to see what they have - and usually come away with smallish sheets of it - which I then use to fabricate my bases - at lowish prices of usually a pound or two at most. I once figured out that most mounted figures cost me pennies for each one - as I always cut to maximise use - and minimise waste.

The process is nothing fancy though - I just figure out what size I'll need, by plonking my figure on a piece of paper, and draw around it with a pencil. Then, out with the trusty hacksaw - and cut pieces to fit. I finish off the edges with various files (I like rounded off corners), and then it's just drill and pin each hoof that's going to attach - and then fit them into matching holes drilled into the stand - a dab of epoxy resin glue on each pinned hoof, file off the underside flat next day ( when glue is hard-set) - and it's there forever - and much stronger and safer than before!

I think that times change - and most companies who offer mounted figures these days, realise that a good stand helps protect expensive figures. Back when these were made, price was really important to similar competing companies - and this was one way of reducing the cost of mounted figures - as most didn't have bases (except for the rearing pose on just two legs - and these were usually small). That's also why we can all find lots old hollowcast figures with broken or damaged horse legs. Thankfully, there are enlightened suppliers out there - who will sell suitable parts to fix 'em up - just like I like to do.

I also have a small collection of British Lancers in my stash - with similar problems - so don't be surprised if I pop up with a similar thread for those at some point in the future.

Hope that explains all Brad - and thanks for asking. here's a pic which might help. Note the genuine Britains markings under the horse's belly - and the original detached arm which came with the figure. I don't like these "moveable arms" which only spoil the figure, so when I attach it, I'll make it permanent and hide the ugly original rivet joint with a dab of milliput - and then paint it. Note also the carbine butt removed from the scabbard - as he will be carrying it in his hand. Other small fixes were plume on fur-cap and cap-line ( which was missing - and was made from another paper-clip). jb

 

[Obee]

JB,

thanks for showing the technique for pinning horses to the base, I use the same technique for foot figures to attach to the base.

Like you I always fill in the pin, because it detracts from the new styled figures.

But, if the customer wants that retained, I will of course, leave it showing, like these Britains Indian soldiers.

I'll be following this thread regularly to see their progress, so keep up the posts,

John

 

[johnnybach]

JB,

thanks for showing the technique for pinning horses to the base, I use the same technique for foot figures to attach to the base.

Like you I always fill in the pin, because it detracts from the new styled figures.

But, if the customer wants that retained, I will of course, leave it showing, like these Britains Indian soldiers.

I'll be following this thread regularly to see their progress, so keep up the posts,

John

Hi John. I don't really think you require any lessons from me - but, you never know - someone may not know how to do it - and it may help them, so it never hurts to show the process, now and again.

I think that they were originally made with the movable arm - for little people to be able to "do" something with the flapping arm. In my opinion, they are a pain in the butt however, as when they inevitably get loose, they flap about and abrade the paintwork - or come off and get lost! - so I always make them fast - and disguise that ugly rivet joint by re-sculpting them on permanently.

However, IF I ever were to get a customer (?)^&grin - who wanted them retained...................well, okay............their choice I s'pose. My view is, whoever buys them - owns them - and whatever they want to do with them - is their choice.

I'll keep up posts showing their progress with pleasure. jb

 

[theBaron]

Thanks for the explanation of your bases, John. I was curious, because they look like they could have been stamped out and cleaned up in a commercial process, that's how good they look.

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

Thanks for the explanation of your bases, John. I was curious, because they look like they could have been stamped out and cleaned up in a commercial process, that's how good they look.

Prost!
Brad

Cheers Brad - that's a nice compliment on my filing skills!

Here's another pic - showing a new one - just cut - and a few others already fitted.

The rather skinny looking horse with 11th hussar aboard - is another rescued old Johillco figure - found without one front leg - which I repaired too. His front leg pin went up to his knee - and was than built up again with some milliput. A much smaller base required for him - so "made to measure".

I also added a sword and carbine on the other side - from Dorset spares, as he was originally (1930's) a budget figure at just two-pence each.

When he's finally finished - he will look as if he cost a tad more than that!

 

[johnnybach]

Thanks for the explanation of your bases, John. I was curious, because they look like they could have been stamped out and cleaned up in a commercial process, that's how good they look.

Prost!
Brad

Cheers Brad - that's a nice compliment on my filing skills!

Here's another pic - showing a new one - just cut - and a few others already fitted.

The rather skinny looking horse with 11th hussar aboard - is another rescued old Johillco figure - found without one front leg - which I repaired too. His front leg pin went up to his knee - and was than built up again with some milliput. A much smaller base required for him - so "made to measure".

I also added a sword and carbine on the other side - from Dorset spares, as he was originally (1930's) a budget figure at just two-pence each.

When he's finally finished - he will look as if he cost a tad more than that!

 

[Al Fisher]

Well done! I find that saving old sods from the trash is a lot of fun . . . particularly so when making something that's never appeared on the market.

Bosun Al

 

[johnnybach]

Well done! I find that saving old sods from the trash is a lot of fun . . . particularly so when making something that's never appeared on the market.

Bosun Al

Cheers Al - glad you like 'em. Yes - I was aware that these two poses were never done by Britains as the 11th Hussars. The Cherry Pickers are a particular favourite of mine - and I already have a Band and a few more to Escort them - but not these particular old Britains poses. I also didn't want the glaring errors of riders having doubled up weapons in hand and scabbard - so removing them was just additional fun.

They will be joining these which are already in my collection - most of which came from Dorset Soldiers - but still very much in the Britains style.

 

[johnnybach]

Here's a pic of my first repaired and converted 11th Hussars completed. The two on the left are a Trumpeter (Britains) and my slightly smaller and slighter figure of a Trooper, just behind him - which is a Johillco "budget" figure dating from the 1930's. It's a somewhat sobering thought to realise that he cost just 2 pence in 1930 - compared to 3 pence for the normal fuller figure!

To the right are more Britains - in the two poses I'm using. Both figures are Troopers - the centre one is an identical horse to the Trumpeter - but doesn't have his arm fitted yet. It's far easier to paint the frogging detail and cross-belt on him without the arm. The empty carbine scabbard (which is a conversion) indicates that he will be carrying his carbine in his hand/arm when fitted.

The far right figure is the other galloping pose. Note how I paint the rider first - before the horse. Note also the sword handle removed from the scabbard - which indicates that these will be carrying sword in hand, when it is eventually fitted.

Lots of tiny detail on these, means it is a slow process - as I wait for a day between applications of tiny paint detail - to avoid smudges. The secret with these, is to take your time. I work on some other things - during the delay between paint applications. jb

 

[johnnybach]

Here's a couple of pics of my four "cantering horse" hussars, which I have chosen to portray as the 11th hussars - nicknamed The Cherry Pickers, because of their cherry-red trousers. Note also that I have chosen to show my trumpeter wearing the pale grey fur short fur cap, which they wore from around 1880 onwards, ( so late in the reign of Queen Victoria). They are all basically, the same casting, though one came with a Trumpeter arm (which I retained) and one carrying a carbine( which I also retained). The other two arms were new recast parts from Dorset Soldiers ( as were all of the repair spares for these figures.

Note also that I have changed the rather basic error made by old Britains, when they cast-in a carbine on one side of this horse, and a sword onto the other side. Thus, when they gave the rider either a sword or carbine to carry in the right hand, (the left hand holds the reins), the soldier had three weapons, one of which he was carrying two of!! Surgery removes the offending "extra" weapon, and milliput and paint completes the repair.

Just a bit of work on the bases - and these examples can join my growing Troop! I must confess to being rather pleased with how these broken old pieces turned out.

Next up will come the galloping pose - which I can now concentrate on. jb

 

[thebritfarmer]

Another brilliant group of figures JB !

 

[theBaron]

Wasn't "Cherry Pickers" a Bowdlerized version of an older, original nickname?

Nice progress, John!

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

Wasn't "Cherry Pickers" a Bowdlerized version of an older, original nickname?

Nice progress, John!

Prost!
Brad

True Brad - Cherrybums - had also been used - from an incident which occurred during the peninsular wars, when the 11th Light Dragoons ( as they were then known) were attacked by the French, whilst otherwise engaged in raiding an orchard! jb

 

[Obee]

Looking good JB !

I love seeing what you do to bring these 'sad, broken' figures back to their former glory, so keep them coming,

John

 

[johnnybach]

Looking good JB !

I love seeing what you do to bring these 'sad, broken' figures back to their former glory, so keep them coming,

John

Pleased you like 'em John. As you know, it's a really good feeling, knowing that these have been brought back from the scrap-heap. All of these could either not stand up - or were missing significant parts before restoration, and I'm grateful to people like Giles, at Dorset Soldiers - for being a source of spare-parts - without which, many of the repairs would not be possible at all - or at the least, far more difficult.

The conversions and painting - is just a matter of personal taste and above all, practice.

I would encourage anybody who is getting fed up with paying big prices nowaday, for small figures, to give this type of thing a try. Repairing old and broken figures is a pleasurable thing to do too - so there is more than just economics to gain from giving it a go.

However, I think I'm preaching to the already converted with you John

All the best - jb

 

[theBaron]

True Brad - Cherrybums - had also been used - from an incident which occurred during the peninsular wars, when the 11th Light Dragoons ( as they were then known) were attacked by the French, whilst otherwise engaged in raiding an orchard! jb

That always stuck with me, after reading a book on Balaclava and the charge of the Light Brigade.

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

On to my last four repaired Britains Hussars now. An old pose ( older than me - as they were available like this since 1920), of galloping hussars, sometimes known as "the Rocking horse", due to the four outstretched legs on the horses; one horse requiring a total of three new part-legs. (You cut the length of leg required to suit what you have left to pin on to). All of these had significant damage to legs of horses - and also other parts - including "lost" arms with weapons - though that's an easy fix with spares available.

I thought I'd show with my last four hussars - and how they appear at different stages in development. In front is what will eventually be my trumpeter - still without a head at the moment ( I'm picking one up tomorrow in Dorset). The others are more or less complete now. Note the rearmost one has not yet had a coat of varnish, unlike the other two - and what a difference it makes to the figures. . Also, the undercoat still showing on two bases - top-coat just applied to one - as the others still have wet paint parts.

Note also the now empty scabbard, as shown on the right figure - as swords are now in hand. Progressing nicely for now. jb

 

[theBaron]

I'd like to see your collection trooped some day, John! Whether on the living room floor, or one a big table covered with green beize, but I think it would be an impressive display.

Prost!
Brad